Bears to sign TE Bennett

One of the best available free-agent tight ends is joining the Bears.

Martellus Bennett, 26, confirmed Tuesday that he would join friend Brandon Marshall by signing a free-agent contract with the Bears. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end caught 55 passes for 626 yards and five touchdowns last season with the New York Giants.

The Bears badly needed to upgrade their tight end group via free agency or the draft. Kellen Davis struggled badly as the team's starting tight end in 2012, when he caught 19 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns to go along with more than a few drops.

Although Bennett's name was the first to surface, the Bears will be busy in the coming hours and days to add more free agents. Second-year general manager Phil Emery could seek upgrades at offensive line, linebacker, wide receiver and elsewhere.